Happy New Year in 2015! Are you preparing for 2020?

Relatively new regulations require aircraft operating in designated classes of airspace (about anywhere a transponder is required) to be equipped with ADS-B Out beginning January 1, 2020. The FAA has issued a new Advisory Circular (AC), 90-114A to facilitate operations, including general operating procedures and performance and training requirements, when using ADS-B for compliance with FAR 91.225 and 91.227. The appendices in AC 90-114A also provide guidance for ADS-B In, which are enabled by ADS-B.

The Advisory Circular’s information, which is not mandatory, describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, of regulation compliance. Although no authorization is required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct ADS-B Out operations in the airspace specified in § 91.225 (U.S.-designated airspace), some International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) States do require operators to have an authorization from their respective State of Registry prior to allowing air traffic services in their airspace. Following is a list of information contained in the Advisory Circular:

• Descriptions of ADS-B architecture
• Technology details (includes mandatory operating procedures in the next five years)
• Updated list for ADS-B IN and Out transponder codes
• Guidelines of suggested guideline of preflight procedures for entering ADS-B message elements
• ADS-B operations outside the U.S.
• In-trail separation procedures to be expected by International aircraft
• Upcoming cockpit assisted visual separation system offered through ADS-B

ADS-B provides foundational technology for improvements related to the NextGen and Single European Sky Air Traffic Management (ATM) Research Programme (or SESAR). As NextGen refers to the effort of the U.S. FAA to transform the ATC system to support a larger volume of airplanes more efficiently, SESAR is a similar effort in Europe. Stay tuned to Advanced Aircrew Academy and stay on course!